2 charged with impersonating law officers to break up party

Two men were arrested Saturday night after they allegedly impersonated law enforcement officers to break up a party in rural south Manteca.

San Joaquin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 10:30 p.m. call Saturday after the dispatcher was told two subjects dressed in tactical uniforms arrived at a party in the 22400 block of South Manteca Road identifying themselves as police officers.

Deputies indicated Kyle Clogston, 18, of Manteca and Marcus Bradford, 19, of Lodi, portrayed themselves as police officers to the victim after they had located the victim and party goers in an orchard behind the victim’s property. When deputies arrived, the victim stated that Clogston clearly identified himself as a police officer to him. Deputies noted that both subjects were wearing tactical style gear, both ballistic as well as tactical vests, Bradford had a badge on his chest resembling that of a law enforcement officer. Both suspects were also in possession of multiple air-soft rifles as well as pistols which had the orange tips painted over black making them look like real firearms.

During the investigation, deputies said both subjects admitted that they had attempted to portray themselves as peace officers to break up the party and admitted that they in no way work for any law enforcement agency. Both were subsequently transported to the San Joaquin County Jail and booked on charges of Impersonating an Officer, Impersonating a Peace Officers Badge, and Possession of an Imitation Firearm. Both were released Sunday.

There was a third male subject, a juvenile that did not get out of the vehicle or portray himself as a police office. He was counseled and released to his father.